Show all images
View video

Volvo 1800S B18 "The King's graduation gift" — 1966

A patriotic sports car, an 1800S (S for Sweden), and moreover, a model with an even larger patriotic provenance, a first car for Sweden's then Crown Prince and current King, Carl XVI Gustaf.

Peter Sundfeldt
Inspector
Send message
Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
Send message

"A cool patinated 1800S in general and a 1800S with a highly valued provenance in particular, all packaged in a user-friendly condition."

COUNTDOWN
CURRENT BID
ENDED
640 000SEK
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
16603
SANDARED
RESERVE PRICE
Reached
LOGIN TO PLACE BIDS
You need an account and be logged in to place bids.
Tip and share
Peter Sundfeldt
Inspector
Send message
Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
Send message

"A cool patinated 1800S in general and a 1800S with a highly valued provenance in particular, all packaged in a user-friendly condition."

Description

It was first registered on April 21, 1966, but the first owner didn't get the car until his 20th birthday, on April 30. A few days prior to his birthday, His Royal Highness the Duke of Jämtland Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus Bernadotte graduated from Sigtuna Humanistiska Läroverk and could enjoy his new 1800S on, presumably, fine early summer roads. The Crown Prince traded in the 1800S two years later for a Mediterranean blue one, but with the new B20 engine. His first Volvo sports car passed through its owners over the years and they were probably aware of the car's provenance. But back then, they probably hardly used that word about its history. Sometime in the late seventies or early eighties, it was repainted, but after 1989, no major work is believed to have been done on the car, thinks the current owner. It stood in the same garage in Jönköping where he had his car and they had a long and longing eye contact over the years. In 2009, he finally got to buy the Crown Prince's old 1800 after nagging the then owner for ten years. She, in turn, got the car as a 50th birthday present in 1991 and was also the owner who adorned this Volvo 1800S with the personalized license plate REGAL. One can assume that it actually referred to the car's history and nothing else. The current owner's user ambitions sank a little lower than he had thought, life with family and work did its thing with time as it usually does. But for the King's Rally on Öland 2023, which the royal couple usually honors with their presence, the activity around the car became more intense. The Volvo Museum was involved and ensured that the car got a service and overhaul. With all the history and documentation, it's most likely that the car has done just over a total of 17,300 kilometers. The last and final inspection was done on 2023-07-27. Also read the article in the magazine Klassiker 1/2024, available to subscribers before Christmas and in stores on January 4th.

Technical data

  • Year
    1966/1966 
  • Registration date
    1966-04-21 
  • Mileage
    73 024 km 
  • Kw / hp
    85 / 116 
  • Fuel Type
    Gasoline 
  • Transmission
    manual 
  • Interior finish
    Leather 
  • Colour
    Green 

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    The original engine with the number 2478 is still in place, so matching numbers, that is. The engine, gearbox, and chassis deliver a good driving experience and feel as they should once the car has warmed up in all its functions. The overdrive also works fine and is undoubtedly a nice driving comfort gem in today's traffic. When the Volvo Museum's workshop did the overhaul of the car for the King's Rally, the brake servo was disconnected due to some problem with a vacuum hose, and the servo is still disconnected. The engine compartment is in a normally used condition.

  • Interior condition:

    The interior is preserved with a comfortably worn feel, along with a fresh headliner, a nice original steering wheel, and stylish Smiths instruments. On the parcel shelf lies Queen Silvia's dried flower bouquet from the summer's King's Rally 2023. The seats are cozily worn-in, providing an even sportier driving position than the original. In other words, low, and if that's not enough, the passenger seat offers an extra low position. The cassette player on the gearbox and driveshaft tunnel adds a nice period feel along with the Blaupunkt radio. The function of the former is uncertain, due to the lack of cassette tapes at the time of documentation.

  • Exterior condition:

    Presentable and stylish, but repainted sometime in the seventies or eighties, there are areas with poor finish and the paint needs polishing. Additionally, the characteristic visible panel pressline on the sills are covered with body filler, a not entirely uncommon measure when a P1800/1800S/1800ES was to be repainted in a less aware era. The unusual wire wheels from French Robergel are said to have been sourced as an original accessory by a Volvo dealer in Ängelholm.

  • General condition:

    A charming and patinated condition with clear potential for improvement, yet this potential is easily overshadowed by an irresistibly significant provenance, regardless of whether one holds a royalist or republican attitude towards their automotive enthusiasm in life.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Itrafik 2001-05-23
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1966-04-21 (typbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1966-04-21
Senast godkända besiktning: 2023-07-27
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 10

Owner's comment

"It had about 6-7 previous owner families before me, plus a couple of car dealers and a 'taxi owner' who had it from 10/14/1968 to 1/17/1969. I bought it around 2008-09 from Kerstin Lager Palmér in Jönköping. She received it as a 50th birthday gift in 1991. It was initially purchased in her brother's name, Claes-Göran Svensson in Bollnäs, so that it wouldn't be revealed through the Swedish Transport Agency that she was getting it as a gift. Before Kerstin, it was owned by builder Herbert Andersson in Edsbyn. Herbert bought the car at Bukowskis auction for collector cars in 1987 (I'm attaching a picture from the catalog, which I managed to get a hold of). The car was the first to be inspected in the first inspection hall of Bilprovningen in Edsbyn. I have spoken with the person who performed the inspection; he has sent me some pictures and inspection protocols. Before Herbert, it was first owned by Bo Lager in Borlänge, and then his father Karl Gustaf. They owned it from September 1977 to June 1987. In a phone call, Bo claims that he bought the car from Gösta Linderholm. Linderholm is not listed in any registry, but his father-in-law Jann Avalow is. I have spoken with Gösta's daughter, who says that her uncle remembers the car well and has more stories to tell. I have got his phone number. Jann Avalow is listed as the owner from April 1977 to September 1977. Olof Steen in Bergshamra had the car for a short time, from February 1977 to April 1977. He confirmed this in a phone call. He thought it was fun that I called, but doesn't have many memories of the car today. There are only two 'real owners' between the king in October 1968 and Jann in April 1977. They are Eddie Parteg in Farsta (he's alive but doesn't answer the phone) and Miroslav Spasojevic. They owned the car between June 1969 and February 1977. Then, as mentioned, there were a couple of car dealers, a taxi owner, and Olof Steen in between."

Facts about the model

When Volvo analyzed the quality and relationship with Jensen Motors (which manufactured the first series of the car) in 1961, a group was assembled in the autumn of the same year as there were well-founded reasons to bring the production back to Sweden. After a couple of turbulent years, this was done, and from 1963 the car was manufactured in Sweden. The prefix was changed from a P to an S as a suffix, meaning 1800S instead of P1800, although the car is often colloquially called P1800 even though only the cars manufactured by Jensen Motors are formally named so.



For the King's Rally on Öland in 2023, it was announced that the king's first Volvo 1800S would participate, but the car in question was actually his second, the Mediterranean Blue one he switched to in 1968. The owner of the auction car contacted the organizer and explained that the car he owned was actually the first. The organizing team was, of course, thankful for the correction and the offer to use the car, and plans began to take shape. The owner inspected his car, corrected a couple of issues, and then took the car to the Volvo Museum's workshop in Gothenburg for service and overhaul. When the royal couple landed at Kalmar airport for further transportation to Öland, the owner was there with his family and the old 1800S that the king received as a graduation gift in 1966. With the king at the wheel, the owner beside him, and Queen Silvia with the owner's family and security in tow behind, the king drove his old car over the bridge towards Borgholm with skill and certainty. Upon arriving at the rally start, there was naturally a lot of excitement with interviews, pictures, films, and activities. The king and queen drove, smiled, and waved. A successful and fun day for everyone involved. After everything was over, Anders, as our owner is called, thought that this was a fitting end to his ownership of the king's first Volvo 1800S. And on the parcel shelf, Silvia's dried flower bouquet still lies.

Location and viewing Information

Location: Sandared

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Classic Car Depot
Shaun Major
+46 709 724007
shaun@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Collection must take place before: 2024-01-25.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
  • Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
  • When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
  • If you do not examine the item on the spot the call charge will be debited, but you do not have to complete the deal.
  • If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
  • Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
  • For items that have not been collected within 14 days storage costs may be charged.

Thank you for following our auctions!

We will send you an email when bidding starts.


Tack för visat intresse, du kommer nu få nyheter och information om kommande auktioner.

STÄNG